Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Cekiwi Green’

ABSTRACT

A  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘Cekiwi Green’ characterized by its small sized pompon type blooms with green ray-florets, with a response time of 49 days.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

‘Cekiwi Green’ is a product of a breeding-program which had the objective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars with a pompon type flower, a 7 week response and a medium plant height (90 cm). The new plant of the present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant. ‘Cekiwi Green’ is a seedling from a cross in a breeding program maintained under the control of inventor. The female parent is #2678—unpatented—, an unnamed seedling not available to inventor for description. The male parent is unknown, being a mixed population of a group of male parents. The new and distinct cultivar was discovered and selected as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross by Mark Roland Boeder in a controlled environment (greenhouse) in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in 2001. The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Cekiwi Green’ was accomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in 2001 and propagated further in a controlled environment in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum bearing small sized green pompon type blooms.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention of a new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum is shown in the accompanying drawings, the color being as nearly true as possible with color photographs of this type.

FIG. 1 shows a plant of the cultivar in full bloom.

FIG. 2 shows the various stages of bloom of the new cultivar.

FIG. 3 shows the foliage of the new cultivar.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This new variety of chrysanthemum is of the botanical classification Chrysanthemum morifolium. The observations and measurements were gathered from plants grown in April/May in a greenhouse in Rijsenhout, The Netherlands in a photo-periodic controlled crop under conditions generally used in commercial practice. The greenhouse temperatures during this crop were at day-time between 18° C. and 25° C. and at night 20° C. After a long day period of 14 days the photo-periodic response time in this crop was 49 days. After the long day period to flowering growth retardants were applied 2 to 3 times in an average dose of 2.5 gram/liter water. The plants were observed (directly) during the flowering of this crop. This variety is sensitive to infection by white rust and infestation by the insect Western flower thrips and leafminer. No tests were done on disease or insect resistance or susceptibility. No tests were done on cold or drought tolerance. This new variety produces small sized blooms with green ray-florets blooming on the plant for 1 week. This new variety of chrysanthemum has been found to retain its distinctive characteristics throughout successive propagations however the phenotype may vary significantly with variations in environment such as light intensity and temperature. To show the phenotype as described ‘Cekiwi Green’ can be planted with assimilation lightning (high pressure sodium lamps; minimal level 2500 lux) all year round under greenhouse conditions in The Netherlands.

From the cultivars known to inventor the most similar existing cultivar in comparison to ‘Cekiwi Green’ is ‘Yoko Ono’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,566). When ‘Yoko Ono’ and ‘Cekiwi Green’ are being compared the following differences and similarities are noticed: Both ‘Yoko Ono’ and ‘Cekiwi Green’ have green pompon type flowers. The differences of ‘Yoko Ono’ and ‘Cekiwi Green’ are (1) Colour ray florets. The colour of the flowers of ‘Cekiwi Green’ is more deep green than that of ‘Yoko Ono’ (2) Length peduncles. The peduncles of ‘Cekiwi Green’ are longer than those of ‘Yoko Ono’. (3) Plant vigour. The plants of ‘Cekiwi Green’ show a very strong vigour, whereas those of ‘Yoko Ono’ are moderately vigorous.

The following is a description of the plant and characteristics that distinguish ‘Cekiwi Green’ as a new and distinct variety. The color designations are taken from the plant itself. Accordingly, any discrepancies between the color designations and the colors depicted in the photographs are due to photographic tolerances. The color chart used in this description is: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, edition 1995.

TABLE 1 Botanical Description of variety ‘Cekiwi Green’ Bud Size Small, cross-section 0.8 cm height 0.5 cm Outside color Green 143 C Phyllaries 2 rows, length 7 mm, width 3 mm Phyllaries among disc-florets Not present Phyllaries color Green 138 B Inflorescence Type Double; Pompon Height 1.5 cm Size Small Fully expanded 3.5 cm Number of blooms per stem Average of 17 Performance on the plant 1 week Seeds (if crossed) Produced in very small quantities, oval shaped, grey-brown 199 A, 2 mm in length. Fragrance Typical chrysanthemum, slight Peduncle length Near the top 6 cm, near the middle 15 cm, near the bottom 22 cm Peduncle color Green 143 A-B Color Color of the ray-florets Upper surface Green 143 C Lower surface Yellow-green 144 C Tonality from Distance A spray mum with green pompon type flowers Color of the upper surface of Green 143 D the ray-florets after aging of the plant Ray florets Texture Upper and under side smooth Number 240-260 Cross section Convex Longitudinal axis of majority Straight Length of corolla tube 0.3 cm Ray-floret margin Entire Ray-floret length 1.5 cm Ray-floret width 0.2 cm Ratio length/width High Shape of tip Round Disc florets Absent Receptacle shape Domed raised Reproductive Organs Stamen Absent Pollen Not produced Styles Present in ray florets Style color Yellow 13 A Style Length 3 mm Stigma color Yellow-green 145 D Stigma Width 1 mm Ovaries Enclosed in perianth Plant Form A spray mum meant for erect culture Growth habit Upright Growth rate Very strong Height 90 cm Width 15 cm Internode length 2-3 cm Spray formation Corymbiform Stem Color Green 138 A Stem Strength Strong Stem Brittleness Brittle Stem Anthocyanin coloration Absent Flowering Response (photo- 49 days (summer) to 57 days (winter) periodic controlled crop, not natural season) Foliage Color immature stage Upper side Green 143 A-B Under side Green 139 C Color mature stage Upper side Green 139 A-B Under side Green 139 C Color midvein mature leaf Upper side Yellow-green 145 C Under side Yellow-green 147 D Size Medium; length 9-11 cm, width 4.5-6 cm Quantity (number per single 26-28 stem) Shape Elliptic Texture upper side Fleshy and glabrous Texture under side Pubescent Venation arrangement Palmate Shape of the margin Serrate Shape of Base of Sinus Rounded Between Lateral Lobes Margin of Sinus Between Diverging Lateral Lobes Shape of Base Truncate Apex Mucronulate Petiole Length 1.5 cm Petiole Color Yellow-green 145 C

TABLE 2 Differences with comparison variety ‘Cekiwi Green’ ‘Yoko Ono’ Colour ray-florets Green 143 C Yellow-green 145 A to 154 A Length peduncles 6-22 cm 1.5-7 cm Plant vigour Very strong Moderate 

1. A new and distinct variety of chrysanthemum plant as described and illustrated. 